Briere says goodbye to Flyers

Danny Briere’s six-year Flyers career came to an official end today, as the one-time top free agent center cleaned out his things at the Skate Zone in Voorhees, and brought two of his two sons along for the occasion.

There may have been a reason for that - Briere indicated that this goodbye wasn’t going to be shared by them.

“I’ve been here a long time, (and) this is home now for me and my family,” Briere said. “So yes, it’s not an easy day. But at the same time, I’ve seen all the rumors and reality was it was going to happen. It’s sad, but at the same time, hopefully it’s new doors that open and new opportunities.

“Obviously I’m not very happy with the way last season went, but it’s also extra motivation moving forward to prove I can still play. Hopefully I have a few more years.”

At least one of those years will be spent as an ex-Flyer, as Briere will be included on the so-called “amnesty” list of compliance buyout players when it’s released in the days following the end of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Every team has two compliance buyouts they are permitted to use either this summer or next in an arrangement worked out between the NHL and its players association after the labor lockout that wasted four months of last season. Players are bought out for two-thirds of their remaining contracts, but none of that money will count against the cap.

Briere is on the back end of what was a front-loaded, eight-year, $52 million contract he signed as an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2007. The Flyers owe him only $5 million over the next two seasons, but his average cap hit of $6.5 million for each of those seasons essentially made it impossible for them to keep him.

“This was a very difficult decision for us to make, as Danny has been a very good player for us over the past six years,” Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said in a statement. “Danny came to our organization as a free agent in July of 2007 and has been a tremendous player, person and role model in all aspects and for that we thank him. We wish him continued success and best wishes in any future endeavors.”

Though still considered a top playoff performer at age 35, Briere has been often injured the past three seasons. In 125 games over that time, he scored but 32 goals, which once would represent the amount he’d score in a typical season.

Thus, the Flyers made official Thursday what everyone has known for months, that Briere would be bought out. There is still no word on whether they’ll use their other compliance buyout as yet. Despite agent Rich Winter’s empty claims to the contrary, goalie Ilya Bryzgalov remains a viable candidate for the other buyout.

As for Briere, who thanks to a ridiculous NHL lockout and injuries was limited to six goals in 34 games last season, he still feels he can be a viable contributor to some team. He will be a free agent as of July 5, and can not be re-signed by the Flyers for at least one full year ... if they have a mind to do so.

“In my mind, I’m trying to get ready for the next season,” Briere said. “I’ve started working out. It’s tough to picture because I have no clue where I’m going to be. We’re not allowed to talk to teams yet; you have no clue who’s interested and where you might end up. So at this time it’s hard to see what’s going to happen. But you try to fight through it and try to get back in shape.”

Briere said the unavoidable conclusion that he’d be moving on from the Flyers in recent months became, “the elephant in the room,” both around the practice facility and at home in recent months.

“I don’t think it’s something we’ve talked much about,” he said. “I’ve already received a few texts from some (teammates) wishing me good luck. The hockey world, it’s a small world. I know we’ll run into each other at some point, whoever it is.”

As for saying goodbye to Philadelphia if not his Haddonfield, N.J. home, Briere said, “The first five years here were amazing. Obviously, last year, not making the playoffs was a tough year (with) the lockout, the short season. That was the tough one. But before that, the previous five, there were a lot of good memories.

“The one that I think stands out the most was the (2010) playoff run; making the playoffs on the last regular season game on a shootout, and going on that run all the way to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. That’s definitely ... the best little stretch of my time here.”